Lawsuit Information Center
This page will look at sexual abuse lawsuits against Dr. Barry Brock, an OB-GYN who practiced in Los Angeles for four decades. Many of Dr. Brock’s former patients are now coming forward and accusing him of sexual abuse during examinations.
If you were a victim of unwanted sexual touching during examinations by Dr. Barry Brock, contact our national sex abuse lawyers today for a free case evaluation.
About Dr. Brock
Dr. Barry Brock is an OB-GYN who practiced in Los Angeles for over 40 years.
During his career, Dr. Brock worked at several prominent institutions in L.A., including Cedars-Sinai Hospital and facilities in Beverly Hills such as Beverly Hills OB-GYN and the Women’s Health Center on Rodeo Drive. During his years in practice, Dr. Brock never faced any disciplinary actions for inappropriate conduct. However, many patients complained about inappropriate conduct during exams.
Despite complaints from various patients, Dr. Brock enjoyed a health professional reputation for most of his years practicing medicine. In the Summer of 2024, however, various reports began to surface about sexual misconduct by Dr. Brock during patient exams.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center officially suspended Dr. Brock’s medical privileges in August 2024. The suspension was based on reports and other information obtained by the hospital about Brock’s sexual misconduct with female patients. Apparently several former patients came forward and made complaints. In the weeks after this suspension, Dr. Brock attempted to contact some of those former patients. Dr. Brock apparently tried to persuade them to back off by telling them he was planning to “retire” from practice anyways.
After conducting an internal investigation, Cedars-Sinai apparently confirmed that the allegations against Dr. Brock were credible. This prompted Cedars-Sinai to formerly “terminate” his employment in September 2024, just a few weeks after the initial suspension.
Sexual Abuse By Dr. Brock
Over 60 former patients of Dr. Brock have now filed sexual abuse civil lawsuits. The allegations in these lawsuits display a creepy pattern of inappropriate conduct and sexual abuse by Dr. Brock. Some of the alleged acts of sexual abuse against Dr. Brock include:
Inappropriate Comments: Dr. Brock is accused of regularly making vulgar or sexually suggestive remarks during medical appointments, sometimes in the presence of patients’ partners. In at least one specific creepy instance, Dr. Brock told a female patient “You have great breasts. I hope your husband tells you that.”
Unnecessary Medical Procedures: Performing invasive and unwarranted procedures, such as “vaginal rejuvenation,” without obtaining patient consent.
Unnecessary Sutures: Dr. Brock is accused of administering non-essential sutures after childbirth, including so-called “extra stitches” for cosmetic purposes.
Inappropriate Physical Contact: Dr. Brock is accused of engaging in non-consensual touching during routine examinations, such as breast or pelvic exams that had nothing to do with the medical exam.
Forceful Use of Medical Instruments: Many patients have accused Dr. Brock of using medical instruments during examinations in a manner described as forceful, violent, or unnecessarily harsh, for his own sexual gratification.
Sexual Assault: Dr. Brock is accused of sexual contact and touching, including digital penetration, of patients during medical exams without their consent. Under California law, this form of non-consensual sexual touching is considered assault.
Cedars-Sinai Knew About Dr. Brock
One major issue in doctor sexual abuse cases is that the doctor’s medical malpractice insurance may not cover the claim because it is considered an intentional act rather than a negligent act. For that reason, the key to success in many doctor sexual abuse lawsuits is to go after the hospital, health system, or medical practice that employed the doctor.
Recently filed civil lawsuits allege that Cedars-Sinai Health System and its affiliated hospitals and clinics, including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, played a role in covering up a long-standing pattern of sexual abuse and exploitation by Dr. Brock. According to the complaints, despite being aware of Dr. Brock’s alleged misconduct, Cedars-Sinai repeatedly renewed his medical privileges over the course of decades. The lawsuits claim this enabled a culture where physician-on-patient sexual abuse could occur unchecked, allowing Brock to continue exploiting patients under the guise of medical care.
Timeline of Allegations Against Dr. Barry Brock
Early 2000s – Initial Complaints Surface
Patients reportedly began voicing concerns about Dr. Barry Brock’s behavior during medical examinations as early as the early 2000s. These initial complaints were informal and often dismissed or ignored by colleagues and administrators. Dr. Brock continued to practice without any formal investigation or reprimand.
2010s – Pattern of Misconduct Emerges
Throughout the 2010s, multiple patients lodged complaints with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and affiliated clinics, alleging inappropriate comments and unnecessary physical contact during exams. Despite these complaints, no disciplinary action was taken, and Dr. Brock maintained his medical privileges.
June 2024 – Former Patients Begin to Speak Out
Reports began surfacing in the summer of 2024 when former patients shared accounts of inappropriate and non-consensual actions by Dr. Brock during exams. These reports gained media attention, prompting more former patients to come forward.
July 2024 – Cedars-Sinai Initiates Internal Review
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center conducted an internal investigation following the initial wave of public allegations. The hospital reportedly identified a credible pattern of misconduct based on patient complaints and interviews.
August 2024 – Dr. Brock’s Medical Privileges Suspended
In response to the findings of the internal investigation, Cedars-Sinai suspended Dr. Brock’s medical privileges. Shortly after, Dr. Brock attempted to contact some of the patients who had reported his behavior. He reportedly sought to dissuade them from pursuing further action by stating he planned to retire.
September 2024 – Dr. Brock’s Employment Terminated
Following additional patient complaints and the conclusion of Cedars-Sinai’s investigation, Dr. Brock’s employment was officially terminated. The hospital issued a statement expressing concern for patients but faced criticism for its failure to address earlier warnings about Dr. Brock’s conduct.
October 2024 – Civil Sexual Assault Lawsuits Filed
By October, over 60 former patients filed civil lawsuits against Dr. Brock and Cedars-Sinai, alleging sexual abuse, battery, and institutional negligence. These lawsuits claimed that Cedars-Sinai ignored warning signs and failed to act on previous complaints about Dr. Brock’s behavior.
Dr. Brock’s Victims Have the Right to File Lawsuits and Get Compensation
Under California law, every victim of sexual abuse by a doctor has a right to bring a civil lawsuit against the doctor for sexual battery. Victims can bring a sex abuse lawsuit against a doctor even if they never reported the abuse to the police or even told anyone about what happened. Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse by a doctor can file a civil lawsuit. Spouses of the victim can also bring their own claims for loss of consortium which is basically damage to the marital relationship.
Damages in Doctor Sex Abuse Cases
Victims who successfully file a civil lawsuit against a doctor for sexual assault may receive financial compensation for various types of damages, including:
Mental Pain and Suffering: Sexual assault by a trusted medical professional can cause significant emotional trauma. Victims may experience acute mental distress, anxiety, depression, or PTSD, which can affect their quality of life for years or even indefinitely. Compensation in these cases often includes damages for both past and future emotional pain and suffering caused by the abuse.
Lost Income or Wages: The emotional and psychological toll of such abuse can impact a victim’s ability to work or maintain employment. Victims may be awarded compensation for income lost due to their inability to work, as well as for future lost earning capacity.
Medical and Therapy Expenses: Victims often require extensive mental health care, including therapy, counseling, and medications, to cope with the aftermath of the abuse. Lawsuits may include damages for past and anticipated future medical expenses related to this treatment.
Settlement Value of Dr. Brock Sex Abuse Lawsuits
The settlement value of sexual abuse lawsuits involving doctors varies based on several factors, with one of the most significant being the presence of a third-party employer, such as a hospital or healthcare organization, that can be held liable. Since intentional acts like sexual abuse are generally not covered by medical malpractice insurance, the ability to pursue a third-party liability claim against an institution is often critical to achieving financial recovery. Institutions may be held accountable for negligence, such as failing to address prior complaints or adequately supervising the doctor.
Below are examples of factors influencing verdicts and settlement amounts in doctor sex abuse cases:
- Severity of the Abuse: The nature and extent of the abuse can heavily impact settlement amounts, with more severe cases leading to higher settlement compensation.
- Institutional Negligence: Cases where hospitals or healthcare systems ignored warnings, complaints, or red flags about a doctor’s behavior often result in larger payouts.
- Victim Impact: The emotional, psychological, and financial toll on the victim, including medical expenses and lost wages, contributes to the damages awarded.
- Public Exposure: High-profile cases or those involving prominent institutions may settle for more due to reputational concerns.
- Your Lawyer: The best sex abuse lawyers get the best settlements. Not every lawyer who handles these lawsuits knows what they are doing.
Contact Us Today
Our attorneys are prepared to help victims of Dr. Brock’s sexual abuse. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation at 800-553-8082 or contact us online.